Writing, marketing and technology
A good picture of yourself is essential if you want to build your brand online. It really is worth a thousand words. A few years ago, I hired a professional photographer to take my picture. It didn’t cost much (£200, I think) but I think it was the best marketing investment I have made. It [...]
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In the New Yorker recently, James Surowiecki wrote: “Numerous studies have shown that companies that keep spending on acquisition, advertising, and R&D during recessions do significantly better than those which make big cuts.” I want to know if managers in big companies have any other response to a downturn apart from budget cuts and layoffs. [...]
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Many people dream of writing a novel and escaping the humdrum 9-5. But there are other, more immediate, ways to make money from writing. Perhaps not fame and fortune, but real money and the satisfaction of doing something you love. Plus you get to keep your day job while you experiment. I should know. I [...]
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Why use CRM? Freelance writers need to do the same kind of marketing that big companies do: Keeping track of prospective clients Monitoring current projects and deadlines Developing new relationships Making sure nothing slips through the cracks (See my article 27 proven freelance marketing tips for more advice on small business marketing.) Overview Big companies [...]
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I love my current clients – this isn’t about them. But in the past, mainly when I was a freelance journalist, I have had to deal with a few clients that were very difficult: Asking for more work without paying more Paying very late Insisting on changes even when I had strongly recommended against them [...]
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One of the hardest jobs I do is my own marketing. It’s always low priority compared to fee-paying work. Worse than that, it’s very hard. As my own client, there is no objectivity or creative dialogue. But, I’ve got you, dear reader! I’ve written a marketing plan that covers the next year and I won’t [...]
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Assuming the goods or work is satisfactory, I pay my suppliers on the day I receive their invoice. I pay them online so they get the money the same day. Apparently, in Estonia this is normal business practice. In the UK, however, there is a culture of late payments. (All my current clients pay promptly. [...]
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Dear Uncle Matthew, I’m sorry to use your time for my selfish quandaries, however I am a young writer who is plotting an escape from agency life for the unknown territory of freelance writing. I have lots of experience but these connections were made via an agency and I am wondering how best to approach [...]
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My company, Articulate Marketing, helps big tech companies communicate better about their products and services. A large part of my work is writing editorial-style content for websites. My credentials are my work for HP, Microsoft, eBay and others. In the past couple of weeks, several people have asked me for advice about becoming a web [...]
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I watched The Apprentice last night. The task involved presenting ideas for a greetings card to three different card shops. Both teams botched the presentations monumentally. Why? Too formal. Hectoring. Talking but not listening. Too much machismo masking too little self-confidence. Standing up. Humourless. Dependent on the script. Too little preparation. (Probably) too long and [...]
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Matthew Stibbe is CEO of Articulate Marketing and Turbine, the easy, online way to deal with office paperwork. He edits Golf Hotel Whiskey and writes the Forbes Aviator column.
Check out my new, free eBook, 30 Days to Better Business Writing, 71 pages of expert tips and advice to make you a better writer. Available on Kindle, paper and free online.